It’s a simple enough question – where does the North begin? But perhaps not one to ask if you aren’t looking for an impassioned argument.

There’s always been a raging debate about the true origins of Midlands cities like Leicester, Nottingham and Birmingham, but most assume they are on solid (northern) ground once they hit the powerhouses of Sheffield and Manchester.

However, BBC Radio 4’s Today programme has blown the debate wide open – by sharing a map which doesn’t show Manchester, Sheffield, York, or Leeds as part of the North.

‘Where does London end?’

The perplexing piece of cartography comes courtesy of Professor Mark Tewdwr-Jones, chair of the regional studies association and an academic in town planning at Newcastle University.

Explaining his somewhat controversial logic, he said: “There are several ways you could define a Northern region, including the ‘post-industrial North’ or the ‘North-Eastern peripheral region – but perhaps the most pertinent question is where does London end?”

“My map is a northern area defined as being ‘not London’,” he continued, “where London’s sphere of influence extends over most of the country – determined by two hour commuting patterns to London which is becoming the norm.”

‘Not quite correct, my friend’

Different ways of defining ‘the North’

There are quite a few different ways to try and define where the North stops and the South begins. For example, some people look at the differences in dialect across the country, others look at big geographical landmarks like rivers and counties, and some take a look at historiocial precedent.

Somewhat understandably, the internet didn’t quite take this definition into their heart straightaway.

However, even this wasn’t enough to quell the argument for good, with the conversation turning to where exactly Stoke-On-Trent belongs in England’s biggest quandary (no man’s land apparently, for what it’s worth).

And what of the people that live on Steven’s expertly drawn yellow line? Will the people of Wolverhampton ever know where they truly belong?

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